Peter,
My experience of Mallee birding is that nothing quite beats getting out on
foot and using your ears to track down birds. Some days you are unlucky and
there just isn't much about, but some days you have cracking success. I
recall a particularly bad day at Wyperfeld where I think we saw a total of
about 10 birds in 2 hours. As in 10 individuals, of about 4 species. Then
I've had days when you practically have to kick Emu-wrens out of the way to
see the Grasswrens at Nowingi. Perhaps a good hybrid of the two methods is
on slow days drive til you see some activity and then get out and walk.
Regards,
Chris Sanderson
On Mon, Oct 4, 2010 at 1:07 PM, Peter Shute <> wrote:
> Tim, you describe two ways of finding flocks on foot. Have you got any
> opinion on the technique of driving till you find one?
>
> I've recently returned from a trip to Little Desert, where I've never been
> birding before. I was a little dismayed to find that walking in some places
> got me just a few very quick glimpses of birds darting across tracks, no
> matter how long I did it for. I resorted to slow driving, and at least the
> birds lingered a little longer.
>
> Peter Shute
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:
> > On Behalf Of Tim Dolby
> > Sent: Monday, 4 October 2010 1:15 PM
> > To: Jeremy Weiss;
> > Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] Mallee trip report
> >
> > Sounds like a really interesting trip Jeremy. I wouldn't be
> > too concerned Jeremy about not seeing some of the rarer
> > species in the mallee, particularly those linked to Triodia.
> > I did a quick count and you saw 22 new species, not bad by
> > anyones calculations! Dipping on species such as Mallee
> > Emu-wren, Striated Grasswren and Malleefowl is not unusual at
> > the best of times - especially not first time around. For
> > example a bird tour guide recently missed them there at
> > Nowingi, stating that it was very quiet.
> >
> > When I was at Hattah and Wyperfeld last week the amount of
> > water in the area was amazing. Lake Hattah was literally
> > bursting its banks. This is probably one reason things are a
> > little quiet, especially around the Lake Hattah area. With
> > all the water around, bird such as Regent Parrot are no
> > longer reliant upon the lake for drinking, and therefore can
> > disperse more widely. For example last week I saw a Regent
> > Parrot flying over a winery near Mildura.
> >
> > Personally I find that a specific feature of Mallee birding
> > is behaviour known as mixed-species flocking, even amongst
> > some of the sedentary species such as Mallee Emu-wren and
> > Striated Grasswren. Mix-species flocking is were flocks of
> > usually insectivorous birds of different species join with
> > each other and move together while foraging. Mix-flocks moves
> > through the mallee at about 0.3 km an hour, with different
> > species foraging in their preferred niches (on the ground, on
> > trunks, in high or low foliage, and so on). Some species
> > follow the flock all day, while others - such as Grasswren
> > and Emu-wren, join it only as long as it crosses their own
> > territories.
> >
> > The key to seeing a range of species is to travel through the
> > area in hope of finding one of these flocks. Personally I
> > found there are two ways of doing this:
> >
> > - Walk slowly and listen very carefully for bird calls and
> > then follow it up straight away
> >
> > - Alternatively walk quickly, covering more territory,
> > stopping when ever you think you hear something. Note that
> > this is a good technique for seeing Grasswren and Emu-wren,
> > which tend to move away or hide when approaching.
> >
> > FYI I've place some information of finding the rarer species
> > of bird in the mallee on my report site. Hopefully it provide
> > some assistance next time you visit, see:
> >
> > http://tim-dolby.blogspot.com/search/label/Finding%20Rare%20an
> > d%20Uncommon%20Birds%20in%20Northern%20Victoria
> >
> > Once you get used to the mallee you'll find that it is one of
> > the most rewarding birding habitats in Australia. The colour
> > of plants, soil and the birds - such as parrots, chats and
> > fairy-wren - adds to its beauty. As you say not seeing some
> > species simply gives you an excuse to go back. To be quite
> > honest I'm usually glad that I've dipped on not seeing some
> > birds for this very reason!
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Tim Dolby
> >
> >
> > ________________________________________
> > From:
> > on behalf of Jeremy Weiss
> >
> > Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2010 11:33 AM
> > To:
> > Subject: [Birding-Aus] Mallee trip report
> >
> > Hello everyone,
> >
> > Thought I would give a report of my trip to the mallee. I
> > went from Monday September 27 to Friday Oct 1.
> >
> > First I should say upfront that I dipped on a lot of birds.
> >
> > I had the 'Where to See Birds in Victoria' book and was
> > expecting to find a lot more than I did. I've only been
> > birding for a year so I think this was just a problem of
> > technique, often I would enter a dry forest and just find it
> > completely silent and I wasn't sure if driving along tracks
> > was better than going on foot.
> >
> > That said I had a great trip, still saw quite a few new birds
> > and the scenery was just incredible.
> >
> > So here it goes:
> >
> >
> >
> > Monday September 27
> >
> >
> >
> > Set out from Melbourne early in the morning. Before the first
> > destination, Lake Tyrrell, we stopped to take pictures of the
> > amazing orange flowers that were popping up everywhere. I had
> > heard that Central Australia was getting a lot of flowers and
> > the Mallee didn't disappoint in that regard.
> >
> >
> > http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5041885994_b5bea4c40f_o.jpg
> >
> >
> > After that, the first interesting sighting on the way was a
> > Red-backed Kingfisher sitting on a power line in some town
> > (sorry, completely forgotten the name but it was a small town
> > on the Calder)
> >
> > I thought this was a good omen since I love kingfisher but
> > arriving in Lake Tyrrell midday it was completely dead. Very
> > windy and couldn't find any birds other than a Singing
> > Honeyeater (new)
> >
> >
> > After that we went to check out Gama Reserve on the way to
> > Ouyen. Lots of activity here, mostly from a family of Brown
> > Treecreepers (new) that were making a ton of noise. Did see
> > the first Mulga Parrots (new) of the trip, some Spiny-cheeked
> > Honeyeaters, Singing Honeyeaters and caught a glimpse of a
> > male Variegated Fairy-wren (new.)
> >
> >
> > Next we headed for Bronzewing Flora and Fauna Reserve...at
> > least I hope that's where we went. It was off Torneys Road
> > and had a dam with water in it. Anyway saw a pair of Southern
> > Whiteface (new,) a few Weebills as well as a beautiful male
> > Splendid Fairy-wren (new). Got very close to him but
> > unfortunately he was against an overcast sky.
> >
> >
> > http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5042523381_3340e17420_o.jpg
> >
> >
> > Then it was off to Hattah-Kulkyne to set up camp. Saw this
> > lizard strutting across the road; maybe someone can help me
> > with an ID?
> >
> >
> > http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/5041886022_043419f5d7_b.jpg
> >
> >
> > Setting up the tent at the Lake Hattah campsite I saw my
> > first Apostlebirds
> > (new.) The novelty wore off quickly, let me tell you!
> >
> > That was the end of the first day since the afternoon was
> > spent setting up the tent and camping gear.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Tuesday September 28
> >
> >
> >
> > Tuesday morning we headed to the Nowingi track to look for
> > Mallee Emu-wrens.
> > This was a lot more difficult than I had originally thought.
> > First I had only brought track pants with me and walking
> > through the spinifex gave my legs a gentle stabbing every
> > time. Next, although I enjoyed roaming the spinifex clumps,
> > it was incredibly hard to find anything. Most of the sounds I
> > heard was just loose bark scraping against the trees in the
> > wind. Anyway didn't see any Emu-wrens that time, over an hour
> > spent there and the only birds I saw were a few Yellow-plumed
> > Honeyeaters (new)
> >
> > After a few nice panoramic views at Warepil Lookout we
> > decided to try the track around Lake Mournpall. Not long
> > after leaving the Lookout we saw a pair of Mulga Parrots fly
> > into the woods. Aching to get some photos of one I headed out
> > and managed a slightly blurry shot of the male
> >
> >
> > http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5041283929_22b71ceb50_o.jpg
> >
> >
> > Luckily enough I stumbled on a family of Red-capped Robins
> > while looking for the parrots. I love these guys and even
> > managed to witness two males fighting, looked like fat little
> > fireballs colliding with each other. Took tons of pics and
> > the male was pretty indifferent to me as he went about
> > foraging for the youngster
> >
> >
> > http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/5041264205_7b8208f853_b.jpg
> >
> >
> > On the way out I also saw a Ringneck Parrot (new) and a pair
> > of Emu (new) from the car.
> >
> >
> > After that we arrived at Lake Mournpall and decided to do a
> > bit of the track (wasn't feeling up for doing the whole 9.5km
> > lake loop.) There were lots of flowers around the track and
> > they were covered in bees but I never got stung the entire trip.
> >
> > Anyway on the brief walk I saw Chestnut-rumped Thornbill
> > (new) Brown-headed Honeyeater (new) , Spiny-cheeked
> > Honeyeater, Rufous Whistler, Red-capped Robin and spent the
> > rest of the time chasing Splendid Fairy-wrens. No good photos
> > of them from that walk, they sure are a lot more skittish
> > than the Superbs back home.
> >
> > On the way out we saw a pair of Mallee Ringnecks and I got my
> > only good photo of them
> >
> >
> > <goog_59613587>
> >
> > http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5041264199_c2fb82187a_z.jpg
> >
> >
> > I found it was pretty common to see pairs of parrots flying
> > around the Mallee but they were all incredibly twitchy.
> >
> >
> > A brief rest at the campground where I saw a Great crested
> > Grebe on the lake before we headed back to Nowingi to look
> > for the emu-wrens again.
> >
> >
> > At Nowingi in the afternoon I again found Yellow-plumed
> > Honeyeaters but this time also saw some friendly Jacky
> > Winters. Caught a very blurry glimpse of a Chestnut
> > Quail-Thrush (new) and I think I may have seen a Mallee Emu-wren:
> >
> > It was a bird the size of a wren and it jumped/flew out of a
> > spinifex clump in front of me into another one. It landed in
> > the base of another patch and seemed to burrow through to the
> > other side where it flew in to a larger clump. I stood
> > staring at the spinifex for about 5 minutes when I realised
> > it must have taken an exit I wasn't watching and was long
> > gone. I'm not too confident IDing stuff without a photo and I
> > guess it could also have been a Striated Grasswren but i'm not sure.
> >
> >
> > Slightly cheered up after seeing something we headed back to
> > the campground for the night. Tried a bit of spotlighting
> > heading from Lake Hattah to Mournpall but only turned up a
> > few Brushtail Possums.
> >
> >
> >
> > Wednesday September 29
> >
> >
> >
> > Wednesday morning we headed back to Nowingi for one last shot
> > at the Mallee Emu-wren. Again I only got photos of some
> > Yellow-plumed Honeyeaters but I also had 2 possible Emu-wren
> > encounters. I heard a soft squeaking and saw a wren-sized
> > bird up ahead of me. Of course it was sitting with the sun
> > behind it and by the time my camera focused it had magically
> > vanished, that's how it goes I guess :P
> >
> > Back at the campground for a break I saw a few Yellow
> > Rosellas around and also a pair of Black-Tailed Native Hens (new)
> >
> >
> > http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5041886038_613e2141f2.jpg
> >
> >
> > and some Grey Teal in the water.
> >
> >
> >
> > In the afternoon we headed for Pink Lakes in Murray-Sunset
> > National Park.
> >
> > Managed to avoid running over a Shingleback Lizard and got
> > some nice photos as a reward :)
> >
> > Saw a pair of Blue Bonnets (new) by the lakes but couldn't
> > get a decent shot. I hadn't heard much about these birds
> > before the trip which is a shame because they are just
> > beautiful. I wish I had gotten a nice picture but they got
> > spooked so easily. Also in the Pink Lakes area was a pair of
> > Red-rumped Parrots, A Black-shouldered Kite, some Masked
> > Lapwings with chicks, Rufous Songlark (new), and a ton of
> > newly hatched locusts by the lake!
> >
> > Again I looked for Emu-wrens around the spinifex area around
> > Pink Lakes but only found this lizard
> >
> >
> > http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4129/5041886028_2633c18631_o.jpg
> >
> >
> > anyone up for an ID?
> >
> > On the way out I saw the only Major Mitchells Cockatoo (new)
> > of the trip but just got a blurry photo.
> >
> >
> > Nearing sunset we went to Wymlet Tank to try to find some
> > parrots. Saw a pair of Banded Lapwings (new) and managed to
> > get some nice shots of them
> >
> >
> > http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5041886000_b5bea4c40f_o.jpg
> >
> >
> > Also in the area were more Brown Treecreepers, Red-rumped
> > Parrots and a pair of Blue Bonnets that permitted me very
> > distant shot.
> >
> >
> > I had decided the night before that I was sick of camping
> > (this was my first time in almost ten years and the nostalgia
> > didn't last long) so we stayed at a motel in Mildura the last
> > 2 nights.
> >
> >
> >
> > Thursday September 30
> >
> >
> >
> > Thursday morning we decided to try King's Billabong near
> > Mildura. The Vic Parks website said it had fairy-wrens along
> > the walking track....all lies!
> > Nothing there but some Miners and a few Yellow Rosellas.
> >
> > After that we headed for Bronzewing again, this time trying
> > the northern part from Merrett Rd. I was hoping for some
> > Malleefowl or a shot at the Quail-thrush but didn't get any
> > luck. It was very quiet, had a few Splendid Fairy-wrens but i
> > couldn't get close with all the undergrowth but did get some
> > decent shots of Chestnut-rumped Thornbills collecting nesting
> > material.
> >
> > On the way out I got some distant shots of a Pallid Cuckoo (new)
> >
> >
> > Next we went back to the south part of Bronzewing to get more
> > shots of Splendid Fairy-wrens. They were infuriating to try
> > to photograph; the Southern Whitefaces were a bit more
> > accommodating. Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, Yellow-rumped
> > Thornbill, Brown Falcon, a flock of Varied Sitella, Rufous
> > Whistler and an immature Red-capped Robin were also present.
> >
> >
> > After that we headed to Gama Reserve again, I wanted to try
> > getting a picture of the Variegated Fairy-wren.
> > Spiny-cheeked, White-plumed and Singing Honeyeaters were
> > present a long with those noisy Brown Treecreepers.
> > Located the Variegated Fairy-wren again but they rarely went
> > out in to the open. This was the best shot I could get :/
> >
> >
> > http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5041264211_60e9376ed5.jpg
> >
> >
> > Made one last trip to Bronzewing as the sun was going down. A
> > few new things were there this time, Brown-headed Honeyeater,
> > Striated Pardalote, Cockatiel
> > (new) and a Little Eagle (new.) As the light was failing we
> > went back to Mildura for the last night.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Friday October 1
> >
> >
> > Friday morning we went back to Lake Tyrrell to look for the
> > White-winged Fairy-wren or some colourful chats (anything
> > other than white-fronted).
> > Driving very slowly along Lake Tyrrell road I think I saw a
> > White-winged Fairy-wren standing on a shrub but by the time
> > my camera was raised it had flown off. It was very distant
> > so I'm not that sure. I did see some Australasian Pipits,
> > White-winged Triller, White-fronted Chat, an immature
> > Red-capped Robin and very happily, a Rufous Fieldwren (new)
> >
> >
> > http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5042533837_8b5093e4f4_b.jpg
> >
> >
> > After that we decided to make the last stop at Wyperfeld
> > before heading back to Melbourne. On the way we stopped at
> > Patchewollock to photograph some flowers and found some
> > Variegated Fairywrens but couldn't get close.
> >
> > Eventually we entered northern Wyperfeld and it was just
> > stunning. Yellow flowers everywhere, absolutely amazing.
> > Birding was very good here as well.
> > Just south of the Casuarina campgrounds, off the Meridian
> > track I wandered around a bit and found a nice mixed feeding
> > flock. Was happy to catch a female Mulga Parrot unawares and
> > finally get some in-focus shots
> >
> >
> > http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/5041886032_bf614f00a2_o.jpg
> >
> >
> > would you believe that it was actually too close this time?
> > Got very close to some Southern Whitefaces, saw some Ringneck
> > Parrots, White-browed Babblers, Splendid Fairy-wrens and
> > Red-capped Robins. Last birds of the trip were a pair of Blue
> > Bonnets but in keeping with tradition they refused to let
> > themselves be photographed :)
> >
> >
> > After that we headed back to Melbourne, arriving Friday night.
> >
> >
> > All in all I had a good trip. I think I would see it in a
> > much better light if I'd gotten a photo of the Emu-wren but
> > it wasn't to be. A few other disappointments like the lack of
> > malleefowl, colourful chats, woodswallows and regent parrots
> > were also pretty annoying.
> >
> > Weather was not too bad, had about 30 minutes of rain the
> > second day but other than that it was mostly fine if a bit
> > cold at night. The overcast days were frustrating as a week
> > earlier they had it forecast as sunny the entire week but it
> > was only a thin layer of clouds and still bright enough for
> > photography.
> >
> >
> > If I did it again I probably would have stayed at Wyperfeld
> > or Pink Lakes instead of Hattah, found them to have a lot
> > more birds and generally they seemed more scenic. Would
> > probably have kept away from the Nowingi track but it's easy
> > to say with hindsight :)
> >
> > I might have come off a bit negative about the experience but
> > I always wish there was more I could see when out birding.
> > I'm pretty happy with having seen around 20 new species
> > (probably won't count WW FW or Emu-wren.) Still had a blast
> > and there's an excuse to go back now!
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